The underlying factor in finding inner peace in your bedroom is good storage.

Here’s J M Interior’s ideas on maximizing your bedroom’s storage space to make the most of every inch;
• In small or awkwardly shaped bedrooms, like a loft or box room, it really pays have fitted furniture. By using wall space effectively, building upwards rather than outwards you are using every inch of space to achieve a tidy, streamlined finish that helps make the room feel bigger. Opt for whites & creams to create the illusion of space.
• Wardrobes are such a key feature for organised bedroom storage. Design your wardrobe to match your needs; full length hanging space for longer coats & dresses, two tiered hanging for shirts, trousers, skirts, built in shoe racks, tie racks, integrated shelving for bulky items such as jumpers, internal drawers for underwear, enhance with useful design features such as internal lighting & mirrors.
• Think about hidden storage spaces & furnish dead areas - storage behind, at the foot of and beneath the bed. Floor space beneath windows is often ignored and perfect for handy storage.
• Bunk beds with built in desks & cubbyholes are fantastic space savers for children’s rooms and truly loved by their owners!
• Add a touch of luxury with a stylishly integrated dressing table, add co-ordinating side drawers for storage of cosmetics, jewellery, hand bags, scarves etc etc
• Why not convert a spare room into a dressing room?  This will free up space in the main bedroom and allow you to order your clothes so that they're never crumpled and always easy to find.

Like our kitchens, J M Interiors bedroom furniture is designed specifically to fit your room and whatever your style our bedroom furniture can be produced to compliment any colour scheme.

• We’re seeing a general movement away from high gloss finishes both in the UK and throughout Europe. This is largely due to their impractical nature for everyday kitchen use with the darker colours showing every mark & smear. As a result silk and matt finishes have regained rightful popularity. 
• A shaded white or cream colour is still the number one painted kitchen colour choice but many clients are injecting a bolder contrasting colour – strong blues and or grey greens.
• Many clients are following our lead to use 2 or even 3 colours with further introductions of timber – perfect for achieving a rustic French charm or farmhouse style
• For a more contemporary feel, cool mid grey tones are a clean, sophisticated choice but with a slight underlying warmth. Contrasting with graphite greys is very on trend, stronger greys can be accented with warm yellows for a really modern, graphic look.

Things to consider when choosing colour:

There are no strict rules when it comes to choosing colour but there are some guiding principles to take into consideration;

• Think about how much natural light your room has – how does it change through the course of the day? Lack of natural light is where the right colour choice can really enhance your room.
• Be mindful of your properties period, be sympathetic to its architecture and look to enhance its features rather than distract from them. Too many colours can have this effect
• What colours are you naturally drawn to and feel comfortable with? There’s no point picking a palette that is unnatural to your everyday colour choices (your clothes, fabrics, furniture etc)

A number of our clients come in to us with concerns over the practicality of painted finishes with chipping & scratches being top worries. However provided the paint is applied via a spray system (not hand painted), the 2 part hardened paint finishes are practical, hardwearing, and colour fast - ideal for busy kitchens.

Whatever direction you are heading in, remember  the J M Interiors colour advisory service is always on hand to help!

1) Be clear about what you want. Think about what you dislike about your current kitchen – lack of storage, old fashioned design, poor layout. How do you envisage using your kitchen space, what is its functional use? A kitchen come family room, a kitchen/diner or a simple kitchen only space. The function will dictate its style and ultimate plan.  Start to build a kitchen wish list that includes your must have features.
2) Set your budget – your budget will ultimately decide what style & features you can incorporate. Remember your money won’t be solely spent on cabinetry and appliances – if your project involves building work you will think to think about additional labour costs including plumbing & electrics. Also consider that flooring and worktop choices will have cost implications.
3) Create a picture of your design and colour preferences. Most people have a clear idea of their preferred style of cabinetry whether an in frame system, traditional solid timber or a more contemporary painted finish. Colour on the other hand can be a more complex decision and is where you can really add some wow factor to your kitchen. This is an area we recommend you use our colour advisory service to help guide you through the possibilities.  
4) Durable surfaces. Your floor and worktops are the most used parts of your kitchens so make sure they are fit for purpose. All surfaces have their pros and cons but by thinking about practicalities, maintenance, cooking considerations & hygiene you should come to an informed decision about the right choice for your needs.
5) Great lighting. Ensure your lighting is right from the start with well-illuminated areas for prep and cooking and softer mood lighting elsewhere.
6) Hardworking appliances – make sure your appliances are right for you. There’s no point having top of the range models with a wide array of features if you’re an occasional cook.

Here’s a quick reference guide to our most popular surfaces:

Timber
Best use: Food preparation and dining areas, for example, islands and breakfast bars. Iroko is ideal for using around the sink having high oil content and being water resistant.
The look: Suits all kitchen styles. Incorporate into a contemporary scheme to add a warmth.
Maintenance: Wipe up spills instantly to prevent staining. Once established, seal with Danish oil quarterly to stop drying out. Scratches can be fine sanded out. 
Durability: If hardwoods are properly sealed and maintained they will last for a long time, but don't use the worktop as a chopping board, or place hot pans directly onto the wood, as it can scorch.
Budget: ££

Composite
Best use: A beautiful and very practical choice that can be used anywhere, including next to hobs and around the sink. Composite worktops can be microbanded for antibacterial protection.
The look: Dramatic colours such as dark grey and blue look great in contemporary kitchens. If your kitchen design is more traditional, stick to neutrals such as cream. Colour consistency throughout.
Maintenance: Similar practical properties to granite. Wipe up spills to prevent marks. Keep clean with a soft, damp cloth and a mild detergent.
Durability: Composite is very tough and more durable than many natural stones. As the colour runs right the way through the material, any scratches can be sanded out.
Budget: ££££

Granite
Best use: Any area of the kitchen, including around the sink and next to the hob or oven. Glossy granite makes a striking island worktop. 
The look: It's a luxury material thats always in fashion and suits traditional and modern styles. Choose from a classic polished finish, or a honed matt for a more contemporary look. Being a natural material it comes in pieces of a certain size meaning you will have visible joins and also means a degree of variation in colour.
Maintenance: Very low maintenance. Clean using a damp cloth and a mild detergent                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Durability: The best of all the natural materials, it can withstand high temperatures, is water resistant and impervious to most stains, but wine and citric acids must be cleaned up immediately.
Budget: ££££

Laminate
Best use: General usage, including food preparation areas, sink runs and around hobs and cookers.
The look: Will suit modern and traditional schemes.
Maintenance: Very low maintenance. Clean with mild detergent.
Durability: Resistant to most stains and chemicals, but not to heat or steam. Not suitable as a cutting surface. Choose a thicker, high-pressure worktop for greater durability.
Budget: £

Corian
Best use: Corian lends itself to the most imaginative uses and greater design flexibility. Joined in a way that creates inconspicuous seams and a sleek, hygienic, non-porous surface it is perfect for a seamless integrated sink and worktop run, in built upstands, great for awkward shapes and curves.
The look: Suits most schemes. Available in a variety of colours – choose bright hues for modern kitchens, white for architectural, and any pale shades for traditional rooms. Dark colours best avoided as scratches are much more evident.
Maintenance: Low-maintenance. Clean with a soft cloth and mild detergent.
Durability: Stain and water resistant. Heat-resistant to 250°C.  Scratches can be sanded out.
Budget: ££££

Why steam?
• It is virtually impossible to burn food in a steam oven!
• Steam cooking locks in fresh food’s nutrients, flavour, texture and colour
• There’s no need to use extra oil, salt or fat
• Defrosting with steam is fast and leaves your food in like-fresh condition
• You can blind bake pastry without the need for baking beads and prove dough
• By alternating moist and dry air your can control browning to get a perfect colour and crust
• Automatic cleaning and stainless steel interiors mean low maintenance some models even feature self cleaning pyrolytic options
 

Here at J M Interiors we love our steam ovens and can’t speak highly enough of them. Our top tip is the AEG ProCombi Steam. It combines cutting edge looks with all the programmes you could wish for. The interval steam mode alternates between steam and fan cooking to produce crisp food that’s still succulent on the inside.